Improvement in percussion-cap holders for fire-arms



R, S. PICKETT.

Cap-B0X. No. 47,127. Patented Apr. 4, 1865 N.PEYERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. n c.

STaTns RUFUS S. FICKFI'TT, OF NEV HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

IM PROVEIVIENT IN PERCUSSION- CAP HOLDERS FOR FlRE-ARMS.

bpectication forming part of Letters Patent No. 4&7J27, dated April L1, 1865.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUrUs S. Proknrr, of the city and county 0f New Haven, in the State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cap-Holders for Fire- Arms; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe construction, character, and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which make part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the capholder, with the lid or cover removed, showing the internal structure, and some caps in their places. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same, cut vertically through or at right angles to the lid and back when the cap-holder is closed.

My improvement consists in constructing a cap `holder with an endless carrying-belt, which is worked by a ratchet-wheel and ratchet or dog, by means of a sliding knob worked by pressing the nger against the knob, (con nected with the shank of the ratchet,) which projects through the back, and in having the spaces between the teeth or notches of the ratchet-wheel each equal to that occupied by a cap, so that each pull of the iinger,without reference to the position of the cap-holder, will cause the belt to force a cap into the cup or l socket at the end,where it will be ready to be I passed onto the nipple of the gun or pistol for use. I make the body of the case ofthe capholder of brass or any other suitable material, substantially of the form shown at A A, Fig. l, and as indicated in section at A A, Fig. 2, with a suitable hinge for the lid or cover at the large end, as shown at a, Figs, l and 2, (or I attach the coverin any other way;) and at the large end I attach a loop, b, to receive a strap or chain when I wish to sling it. At the extreme point of the small end of the case, as at Z, I make an open projecting part or cup of asize suited to receive one cap 5 and on the inside at the small end I fit a small looped spring, as indicated at m, Fig.l,which passes into the projecting` part or cup Z, as indicated by dots at m, Fig. 2, to press against the side of the cap, so as to prevent it from falling out by its own gravity or by any jar, yet weak enough to yield to the friction ofthe nipple. In the large end of this case I t a ratchetwheel, as shown at B, Fig. l, (where the cap or iiange C is represented as having been broken away,) which will be revolved by the action ofthe ratchet or dog d, when the dog receives a rectilinear motion, by pressing the finger against the sliding knob D, Fig. 2, to carry the endless belt which moves the caps. In the small end of the case I fit a small flanged pulley on a screw-stud, as shown at e, Figs. l

and 2, around which the endless belt g g also passes. In the positions of tangents to the peripheries of these two pulleys, C, and c, I fit two plates or scales, as h 7l., Fig. 1, and l1., Fig; 2, along which the endless belt g g passes, and is thus kept straight and steady. the two plates or scales h h, and about midway-(longitudinally) of the case I iit anotched or slotted block or guide, 7c, Fig. l,throu gh which notch or slot the stock or shank of the ratchet or dog d slides or is guided, as shown at 7.', Figs. l and 2, to keep it steady in its place while being moved back and forth. To throw back the ratchet or dog d to the position shown in Fig. l, I use a suitable spring, as a, Fig. l, and partially shown in section in Fig. 2, so that when the dog d has been forced forward by the nger to revolve the ratchet-wheel B C,the spring a will throw it back to act on the next tooth. I fit an endless belt, g'g, (made of leather or any other suitable materiah) of a suitable width to work on the two pulleys or wheels B C and e, Figs. l and 2, and on the side of this endless belt I t a forked stud or projecting fork, at p, Fig. l, to press against the caps, to force them along when the belt nieves, as indicated in Fig. l.

Having made and arranged or fitted the several parts as before described, by revolving the ratchet-wheel B, I bring the forked stud p to any desired position, as p, Fig. l, and then fill all, or any desired part, of the remaining space outside of the endless belt with caps, with their open ends upward as they appear at E, Fig. l, and close down the lid orcover, when the whole will appear as indicated by the section in Fig. 2, when the capfholder will be ready for use.

Vlien I desire to prime a gun or put a cap on a nipple,I press my iinger against the4 projecting knob D,Fig.2, and slide it in the direction indicated by the dart on the stock d, when the hand or dog d, Fig. l, will revolve the ratchet-wheel B, in the direction indicated by the dart, on its cap C, and force the caps for- Between Ward until one (being guided by the projecl Ward, &c., as the position of the nipple may 'tion m) is forced into the projecting cup, as

shown at l, Where it is sustained by the pressure of the small spring indicated by dots at m, Fig. 2. I then press the cap onto the nipple of the gun, when the force of the spring will yield to the friction and the cap will be left onthe nipple, ready for discharing the gun; and as the spring n will have returned the ratchet or dog d to the next notch or tooth of the ratchet-wheel, as shown in Fig. l, the capholder will be ready for another operation7 as before; and when the caps are all used except one,the forked stud p Will pass by the guiding point m, Fig. 1, and the holder Will be ready to be again filled Wit-h caps.

The advantages of my improvement consist in that, as the caps are moved forward by a positive motion communicated to the belt the holder may be used in any desired positionthat is7 either end or either side may be uprequire; and in that the holder may be used in either hand and with gloves or mittens on, with equal facility and convenience; and its shape is peculiarly Well fitted for carrying or handling any Way.

-That I claim as my invention7 and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the ratchet-Wheel with the endless belt and its forked stud p, when the Whole is constructed and fitted for use substantially as hereindescribed.

2. The combination of the endless belt with the guide m and cup Z, When the Whole is conv structed and fitted for use substantially as herein described.

RUFUS S. PICKETT.

Titnessesz VILLis Bizrs'roi., R. FITZGERALD. 

